Package sealing machine



March 29, 1938. P. WRIGHT PACKAGE SEALINR MACHINE 3 vSheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, `1957 Mmh 29, 193s. Y P. WRIGHT 2,112,585

PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed June s, 1937 s sheets-sheet s Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT or-fincav 22 Claims.

`This invention relates to box strapping maechines and has for its object to provide a mechanism which is simple in construction and operation, and more efficient in use than those heretofore proposed. 1 Q

With these and other objectsin view the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly l0 pointed out in the claims.y

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like parts in0 all the-views,-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the machine taken substantially in the plane of the strap -with which a box is to be bound;

2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine taken transversely of Fig. l and substantially onthe line 2--2 of lFigfi looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 but taken as on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, but illustrating the crimping jaws in their lowermost position;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken ,substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of. the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in section to illustrate the construction and 30 operation of the strap cutter;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary central sectional View. of the yieldable connection provided in the link for actuating the means for. feeding a strip of band material to the seal forming mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof a formed seal blank; y Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the overlapped ends of the box strap with a crimped seal applied thereto for locking the same together;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the crimping jaws;

Fig. 10 is a detail view illustrating how the crimping jaws secure a seal to the tensioned box strap;

Fig. l1 is a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the feeding means for moving a supply of band material to the seal forming mechanism; and

. Fig. 12 is a verticalsectional view taken as on "U the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

y This invention is directed to machines for tensioning a thin flat metallic strap around a box or crate, forming a seal from a 'supply of thin flat 55 metallic band material, and applying and crimp- (Cl. 81-9.1) y ing the formed seal around the overlapping ends or bights of the box strap,` the crimping operation being performed-simultaneously with the cutting and forming of a seal, whichseal however, is for subsequent use in the next box strapping and sealing operation.

I indicates generally the base \of the machine which has atvits substantially central -portion a vertically extending housing generally identifled by the numeral 2 for containing a loose coll of seal forming band material 3the outermostend of. which is fed intermittently to and over an anvil 4 disposed at what will betermed the front edge' 5 of the machine, the feeding action being stopped` when the end of said material strikes the shoul-v der 6 of a dog l pivoted as at 8 to the frontcover 9 of, said housing, said dog placed under tenslon as by the spring I0 so as to hold against retrograde movement the s. free end of the seal band against the top surface of saidl anvil. In this respect said dog is rounded where it engages said seal band so that the latter may be freely d1- rected between said dog and said anvil in the forf ward feeding of the seal band material.

Said housing- 2 comprisesthe front plate 9 `extending vertically and having its side vedges suit ably secured to the two side walls such as II and I2 the latter of which is preferably removable butsecured in place asby the screws I3, to portions of the machine casting, the rear of'said housing preferably being open but covered by a hinged door I 4 made of spring material, said door pivoted at I5 and provided with a latch-forming end I6 for making possible the ready insertion ofVV a newcoil of seal forming band materialwhen the previously contained coil has been vused up, a sight opening I1 being provided in `oneor both of the side Walls I I and I2 to enable the operator to determine the quantity of seal forming bandv material left in the housing. v Y

At the front end of the machine there is provided a vertically reciprocable plunger 20 operating closely in a suitable guide space formed between the housing walls 9, I I and I2 and a portion 2| of the machine casting. This plungercomprises a base portion 22 carrying at its lower end ra hardened shear member 23 which, upon its downward movement, cuts oil the free end of the seal forming material lying on thevanvil 4, said base portion carrying at its upper end `rtwo parallel spaced plates 24 and 25 carrying therebetween a plurality of hardened rods such as 26 spaced from each other to receive therebetween the teeth such as 21 carried by the lever vorv handle 2B pivoted as at 29 in the upper portion of the machine,whereforeitwillbeseen fromlligJthat asmidleverisoscillatedtheplungerwiilbegiven vertical reeiprocation or siding movement. Purther. the bottom-oi' thebase member 22 of said plunger 'has a conilguration as at Il coacting with the conguration of said anvil so that when the freemdoftheaealformingbandmaterialis cutoff. bytheshear ..itisimmediately andsubsequentlybentovertheanviltoassumetheshape showninHgJlmtb'stillretainedontheanvil by pressured theholding dog'l, said member 22 having a slotway Il formed therein to straddle mid dog during this seal blank forming operation.

The base portion l! of the plunger is preferably made of solid metal forstrength and securely vthreaded thexeinto is a pin generally indicated by the numeral 3i extending horizontally outward therefrom through a vertical slotway 30 formedin the side i! of the housing. said pin having the same diameter throughout its length, or made of different diameters asV found moet suitable, the latter being thecaselllustrated in the drawings, this pin having reciprocation with the plunger. 'The function of this pin is to ac' tuate the crimping dogs. later tobe described.- as well as the cutter for severing the bight of box strap between the supply thereof and the crimped ysealfsaid pin also actuating the means for feed# #vot pins Il and l2 together with al'top pin` frame plates 87| and I in 4l serving to hold the spaced relation. The upper extremities of the laws I and 44 are connected as by the links 4l and 4l to the plunger pinIIII-wherefore it will' be clearly-understood that the reciprocations of said pin will came the crimping jaws to operate about their pivots while carrying said Jaws in their frame upwardly and downwardly'in the guide l and Il, the top edge of the plate 3l being provided with a slot* 4I to accommodate the pin Il in its extreme lower position. In other words, the Jaws and M with their links 4I and 41 create a toggle, actuated by the plunger pin Il, so that when said pin is in its elevatedposition theelower ends of -the Jaws will be.` fully opened but when said pin is in its lowermost position the shoulders such as of said jaws willhavecometorestonthesealblanktobe crimped. and further downward movement of the pin ll `causes an outward flexing oi said links to turn the Jaws about their pivots to fold vthe depending sides such as Il of the seal blank in under the lowermost bight Il of the box strap. this final action of said laws causing suitable prolections Il, on the inner surfaces thereof to bite into the opposite edges of the overlapped bights to make deformation indicated at I3 preventing slippage of one bight of the box strap over -the other bight'after the seal is completed.

A stirrup Il isdispoaed within the Yhousing 2 'andpivotedatitsupperendsasatli totheopposite sides i I' and ri! of said housing. said stirrup being of substantially U-shape witha botl! connecting'the two verticalvspaced si Iheillofthesealforming band mated between the sides of this stir-y of said coil passing to the surfacev of the lower wall l2 A pi'n passes transversely'ofanales the stirrup adjacent its lowerwall, and is pivo- ,e tally mounted in the opposed sides, said pin ex-. tending outwardly of the housing through a slot Il formed in the side wall such as i! thereon.

andaecuredtotheouter'endofthispinisan armilpivotailyconnectedasattooneend Y of a tubular member Il slidably receiving therein one end of a rod tl who other end is pivo-l to form a seat against which abuts one'end 0f a coil spring ll whose other end is retained as by `a cap 'Il for the tubular member,'see particularly Pig. 6, the purpose of this construction beingv to provide a yieldable connection between the plunger pin II and thearm il.

On the pin Il is secured a dog 1I which, when the arm "is pulled by the plunger pin in a direction toward the front of the machine and given slight rotarymovement thereby, will pinch the outer end portion of the seal forming 4band material against the bottom wallV I2 of the stirrup and feed said portion over the anvil l' until the extreme end is stopped by the shoulder I lofthe holding dog l, see Fig.` 2. On the reverse or back# wlrd movement of said arm Ii the dog 'Il will be lifted from its pinching position, leaving the end of the seal forming band material on said anvil, the stirrup Il being swung towardthe left as seen in Pig. 2 to the limitofl its movement caused by the downward movement ofthe plunger pin. 0n the next upward movement of said plunger pin the stirrup dog 4II will againtake la pinch-hold on another portion of the seal forming band material and similarly feed it toward'v the anvil l. In the meantime the shear 2l carried by the plunger will have lsevered the end, portion of the previously forwardly fed seal forming band material and thissevered portion will have been moved out of the way by mechanism later to be described. In other words thestirrup dog 'il has intermittent pinching action on the coiled band'material for successively feeding said material to a position under-the plunger for'severance ofthe end portion of said material by the continued movement' of the rod Il during the extreme upward movement of the plunger pin l5 after the end of the seal forming band material has reached and been stopped by the shoulder i of the holding dogr 1.

Substantially parallel with the front edge l of the machine, there is formed' in they base i a guideway lllto receive therein the slide 10 car'- rying at one end an 'upstanding'lug 11 to which is pivoted as at 'Il one end of a linkllthe other end of whichr is pivoted as at- Il to a vertically exfendinghand lever Il the lower-*most end of which isfulcrumedas at 'l2 to 'an ear 83 extending imwardly from the base of themachine. so that when the lever `Il is oscillated lthe link' Il will cause horizontal reciproeatiomy of .the slide 1l.' e v'Ihe opposite end of said slide has an upstanding lug to which is pivoted as at Il a tensioning or take-up dog Il having a handle portion 81 and urged as' by the spring It against the bight of the box strap to pinch the sameagainst a cooperating foot'll. This Vlug Il has rigidly attached thereto a pair of-ilngers and Il sul stantially parallel to each other and to said slide;

saidvilngei's extendingin a direction from said lug toward theanvil I, said lingers being so spaced from each other andfpositioned as to Aeach other as willbe clear from Fig. 1.

dog |01 is adapted to vpinch and hold rthe lower.

left as seen in Il'ig. 1 from theanvil 4 onto and straddling the upper bight 82y of the overlapped ananas ends of the box strap, and into apposition imme-l diately below and in the path of the crimping jaws. y V

The base` I of the machine is also provided with another upstanding ear |00 Vhaving a horizontal lateral extension |8| 4servingas a foot or shelf` upon which the upper bight 02 of the box strap is held To said ear I00.is pivoted as at |02 a4 dog |08 for pinching said upper bight of the box pin IOB'extending from the side of the ear4 |00` serves as a stop for limiting the movement of said dog in one direction Said ear has a second dog |01 pivoted, thereto as at |08 also having an upwardly extending handle portion` |08,y

the two handle portions |05 and |00 being spaced from each other in a plane substantially parallel with the front edge 5 of the machine, with a` spring i I0 interposed between said handles for exerting a pressure-normally tending to move the two dogs |03 and |01 in a direction toward The bight 5| of the box strap against the upper surface of a toe |I| extending forwardly from the front `edge of the base of themachine, the lower Y end portion of said dog |01y being L-shaped to clear4 the upper bight 92` while its extreme lower end extends into the space between the upper and lower bights for engaging the lower bight.

Secured to the ears 83 and yl00,\and bridging the slide 15 is a vertical plate ||5 whose extreme forward edge is fashioned into a lower cutter blade H6 cooperating with an upper cutter blade ||1 constituting one arm of a crank H0 pivoted to said plate as.at'||9, the other arm of said crank having formed therein a slotway |20 within which rides theA plunger pin 35. With particul this s otway is provided `with a bend indicated at |40 to insure operation of the cutter blades before pin 25 reaches the lower limit of'its stroke. The position of these two cutter blades is such as to receive therebetween the. upper bight 02 of the box strap so that, after the strap has been tensioned about the box, the upperl bight thereof will be severed at about the midpoint of the downward movement of the plunger pin, thereby permitting the severed bight (with the formed seal blank thereon) to be moved into surface contact with the lower bight 5| byfthe crimping Yjaws during the remainder of the down stroke of said pin, `the final oscillation of said jaws to crimp the formed seal blank and the contacting bights securely together taking place just prior to the lowermostlimit of said stroke.

The operation of the machine ywill be brleily described in the following. The coil of seal forming band material 8 is placed 'within the housing 2 and the outer end of the coil is threaded under the dog 1| of the stirrup 58, and then the handle` 28 is partially oscillated to give short reciprocai Iupon the dog 1 will hold saidend against the anvil l, thehandle `28 then being substantially .n

reference toFig. 5 it will be seen thatr in the position shown in Fig. 2 with .the plunger 20 raised to its uppermost throw. 'Themtheihandie 28 is fully oscillated to the position shown in Fig. 3 which causes a downward throw oi' said plunger duringwhich movement the shear `28 will cut on' the .correct length from the-end portion Yof the coil and the lower end of theplungei win form thel severed portion into the' seaiblan having fa substantially inverted U-shapte';l andv leave' this formed blank -held upon the anvill I by the dog- 1. The Vstirrup l0 will then be in its rearmost position as indicated in Fig. 3.

The machine is then placed on Vthe upper surface of the-'box to be strappedand"a length of strap from a coiled supply led to the machine where .the extreme end portion |2| of said strap is laid on the upper surface ofja toe |22 extending forwardly from the front edge ofthe base, of

the machine and under or in line with theplunger 20. The strap in thisposition is passed beneath the lower cutter blade ||8 in a space provided therefor; `and thence placed between the dog |81 and the top surfaceoi the cooperating toe I',

the dog being oscillated by the handle, |09 -topermit yentry thereunder of the strap, ysee Fig. 1. Thefstrap'is then passed around the box as will be clearly understood and kthreaded under the dog 85 carried by the slide` 18 so that said dog.

under the tension of its spring 08, will grip said strap and pinchingly hold itA against the top Ysurface of its Vcooperating foot 88. The remainder of the strap is laid in `the slot |28 formed be-v neath a portion of the anvil 4.,;thence passed 1 betweenpthe cutter yblades IIS-andl ||1 (the.

crimping jaws being raised for this purpose) and thence passed over the la'terailower extension of the dog |01, andvplaced between thel dog |08 and its cooperatingfoot |0|.

'I'hen the tensioning lever 8| isoscillated, caus-` ing reciprocation of the slide 16 carrying theten-`` sioning dog 85, and when/the slide movesto the left as seen in Fig. l the dog 88 and its coacting foot 80 will pull the slack out of the strap around lever 8| might be suilicient but plural oscillations.

of said lever may be made if necessary to get the desired tension, the function of the dog 86 being to progressively tighten the strap around the box, andthe function of the dog |03 being to hold the tightened strap shouldplural reciprocatiohs of the slide be necessary. `When rthe desired tension is obtained, the dogs |03 and |01 y will maintain said tension and the lever 8| may be raised to its vertical position causing the slide to move to its extreme-right hand` position, looking at the machine as in Fig. 1, thereby `moving the lingers 90 and 8l out of the plunger cham- If the strap has been ber: with the slide in this position itsfdog 8B Vwill l clampingly holdvthe tensioned strap so rthat the upper bight v92 may besubsequlentlyg--severed by f the cutter blades H6 and |1 without loss vof strap tension. f

During the left hand movement of theslide 15 the ngers and 9| carried thereby will have moved or slid the-.formed seal blank from the' anvil I onto and straddling the upper bight $2 of the tensioned strap and into a position immediately below thecrimping jaws. When the desired strap tension is obtained'the other/handle or lever 28 is given anoscillatory movement-from` the position shown inFig, 2 tothe positionin Fig.v 3 thereby lowering the plunger 20 carrying the pin which actuates the cutter blade I i1 to sever the upper bight of the strap, which severance is immediately followed by thefull outward toggle movement of the links 46 and 41 to` bring together the crimping jaws 43 vand 44, thereby completing the Aseal shown in Fig.v 8'. Upward movement of the'plunger then releases and Vraises the crimping jaws, and the machine' may then be removed from the box.

Whereas the lower portion `of the plunger 2l has been illustrated as'i'ormed with a `separable shear element 23 it will be understood thatvthis shear could be an integral part of the plunger hardened or` tempered rto perform its cutting function.y Also the means for forming the-seal blank from thestripmaterial comprises the stationary 'anvil 4 constitutingfa male die and the correspondingly formed bottom portion of ythe plunger jconstituting a female die.' both dies cooperating with the plungerfor severing a predetermined length 'of the fed strip material and formingfthe severed portion into the seal blank. Special attention isfdirected tothe means for reciprocating the plunger which comprises the rods 26 constituting rack-like elements, and the teeth 21 for engagement therewith; These teeth'Y are larranged eccentrically with respect to the pivot 29 of the operating lever 2l Aso as to dispose the tooth valley 135 clserto'the .pivot than any ofthe other valleys.\ Further, the rods 28 are arranged in a row which is`not parallel to a face of the plunger but whichl is obliquely disposed to they line of plunger reciprocation, the

Atopmost rod |36 passing closest to the lever pivot 29- on the downward 'stroke-of the plunger,fand this particular'rod may' be provided as shown with a cylindrical `bushing. constituting a fairly frictionless bearing Vwith the toothed portion of said lever. The purpose of this construction is to give'increased leverage ('see Fig. 3) upon the plunger at the end of its downward movement at the time not only when the strip material is severed and formed into the seal blank, but when the upper bight 92 of the box strapvis severed from its supply, and the crimping jaws 43 and 44 perfect the seal. f

It will be obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangements of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventionand therefore it is desired not to be limited'to the exact foregoing disclosure except as may be demanded by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement of the strapl tensioning means; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sever a predetermined length ofthe fed strip of material and to form the severed portion into a seal blank;v means actuated by the strap tensioning means tomove the formed seal 'blank into crimping position Awith respect to `'overlapped portions of the'tensioned strap; and

means actuated by said plunger for operatingthe material'feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form av seal, and for cutting off the surplus 'ofthe strap adjacent the seal. l Y Y 2. Ina box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means;r yieldable means `to feed a strip of seal blank material in al direction' transverse to the movement of the strap'ten'sioning means; a reclprocable plunger and means oooperating therewith tosever ay predetermined length of the fed strip of material and to form the severed portion into a sealv blank;

actuated by the strap tensioning means to move the formed seal blank into crimping position with respect to overlapped-portions oi the tensioned strap; and means actuated by said plunger for operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form av seal, and for cutting `off-*the surplus of the strap adjacent the'seal'.` f

3. In a box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction'transverse to the movement of the strap tensioning means, said feeding. means including a pivoted member; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sever a predetermined length of the Vfed strip of material and to form the severed portion into a seal blank; meansactuatedby the 'strap' tensioning meansto move the formedseal blank'into crimping position with respect to overlapped portions of the tensioned strap; and means actuated bysaid plunger for operating the material yfeeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlappedk portions of the tensioned strap'to' form a. seal, and for cutting othe surplus of the strap adjacent the seal.

4. Ina box strapping'machine the combination of strap tensioning means, means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a directiontransverse tothe movement of the strap tensioning means,

said feeding means including a pivoted member strap; and means'actuated by said plunger for` operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal,

and for cutting off the surplus of the strap adjacent the seal. K f 5. In a box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioningmeans; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement'of the strap tensioning means, said feeding means including a swingable stirrup through which the strip is threaded, and a gripper element carried by said stirrup and engageable'Y with the strip; a reciprocable plunger and meanscooperating therewith to sever a predetermined length of the lfed strip of material and'. to form the severed'portion into la seal blank; means actuated by thestrap Ltensioning means to move the vformed seal' blank into crimping position with respect to overlapped portions of the tensioned strap; and means actuated by said plunger for operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positionedseal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal',v and for cutting off the surplus of the strap adjacent the seal.

6. .In a box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means; means to 'feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement of vthe strap tensioning means; v a reciprocable plunger and means cooperatingv ananas therewith to sever a predetermined length of the .fed strip of material and to form 'the severed portion into a seal blank,` the cooperating meansininto crimping position with respect to overlappedv portions of Ithe tensioned Strap; and means actu-'- atedby said plunger for operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal, and for cutting oil.' the surplus of the strap adjacent the seal. r,

. '7. In a box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement of the straptensioning means; a y reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sever a predeterminedl length ofthe fed strip of material and to form the severed portion into a seal blank, the cooperating means including a stationary die member and a companion die member carried by the plunger, one of said members constituting a shear element;

`means actuated by thefstrap tensioning means of strap tensioning means including a reciproca-v ble slide; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to themovement of the strap tensioning means; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sever a predetermined length "of the fed strip of material and to form the severed portion into avseal blank; means actuated bfvthe strap tensioning means and carried 'by said slide to move the formed seal blank into-crimping position with respect to overlapped` portions of the tensioned strap; and means actuated by said plunger for operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal, and for cutting off the surplus of the strap adjacent the seal.

9. In a box strapping machine the combina tion of strap tensioning means; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement of the strap tensioning means; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sever a predetermined length of the fed strip of material and to form the severed portion into a seal blank; means actuated bv the strap tensioning means to move the formedl seal blank into crimping position with respect to overlapped portionsof the tensioned strap: and means actuated bv said plunger and including a plunger carried pin for operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal, and for cutting of! the surplus of the strap adjacent the seal.

10. Ina box strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement of the strap tensioning means; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith a sever a predetermined length of the fed strip of material and'to; form the severed'portion into a seal blank, said plunger having rack-like elements; means to reciprocate 'said plunger, said means having a toothed portion operatively engaging said rack-like elements;

means actuated by the lstrap tensioning means., to move the formed seal blank into crimping pol sition with respect to overlapped portions of the tensioned strap; and means actuated byl said plunger for operating the material-feeding means,

for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to forma seal,` and for cutting oil the surplus ofthe 4strap adjacent the' seal. Y Y.

11.v In a b'ox strapping machine the combination of strap tensioning means; means to feed a strip of seal blank material in a direction transverse tothe movement ofthe strapitensioning Vmeans; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sever a predetermined length of thefed strip of material and tov Iormfthe severed portion into a seal blank, saidplunger having rack-like elements; pivoted means to reciprocate said plunger, said means having a vtoothed portion operatively engaging said `racklike elements, said portion eccentrically disposed with respect to the pivot of said means; means actuated by the straptensioning'means to move the formed seal blank into 'crimping position with respect to overlapped portions lof the tensioned strap; and means actuated by said plunger foroperating thevmaterial feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a v seal, and for cutting off the surplus `of the strap adjacent the seal.

12; In a box strapping l machine the combination of strap tensioningv means; means'to feed a stripY oi' seal blank material in a direction transverse to the movement of the strap tension-` ing means; a reciprocable plunger and means cooperating therewith to sevr a `infedeterxnined length of the fed-strip of material and to form the 'severed portion into` a seal blank, said plunger having rack-like elements arranged in a row obliquely disposed to the line of plunger reciprocation; means actuated by the strap tensioning means to move the formed seal blank into crimping position with respect to overlapped portions of the tensioned strap; and means actuated by said plunger for operating the material feeding means, for crimping the positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal, and for cutting of! the surplus of the strap adjacent the seal.

13. Mechanism for forming a seal blank for sealing box straps or the like, comprising means' to feed strip material to a position where the seal blank is formed; a reciprocable member including means to sever the end portion of the strip and to form the severed portion into the seal blank, said member actuating the strip material feeding means; means to hold the seal blank temporarily after its formation; and means to move the seal blank from its temporarily held position.

14. Mechanism for forming a seal blank for sealing box straps or the like, comprising means to feed strip material to a position where the seal blank is formed; a reciprocable member and cooperating means to sever the end portion of the strip` and to form the severed portion into the seal blank; pivoted constantly tensioned pressure means to hold the seal blank temporarily after blank is formed;`a reciprocable member including meanstosever the vend portion ofthe strip and to form the severed lportion into .the seal blank. said member actuating the strip material feeding means; meansy to hold the seal blank temporarily after its formation; and means to move the seal blank fromv its temporarily held position. said means subject to actuation when the seal blank is required for sealing the box strap. v

16. Mechanism for forming a seal blank for sealing .boxstraps or the like, comprising means to feed strip materialto a position where the. seal blank'is formed: 'fa stop for limiting the feeding movement of the strip to provide a predetermined length for seal blank formation; a reciprooable member including means to sever -the predetermined fed length of the strip and :to form the severed portion into the seal blank,` said member actuating thestrip. material feeding means; means to hold the seal blank temporarily after its formation, said means carrying said 890D: and means to move the seal blank from its'temporarilyheld Pition.

Y1'1. Mechanism for forming a ses) blanrfor sealing box straps or the like,A comprising means to feed strip material to a position where the seal blank is formed; a stop yfor limiting the feeding movement of the strip to provide a predetermined length for s ealblank formation; a reciprocable member and cooperating means to sever the predetermined fed ylength of the strip and to form the severed portion into the seal blank; means to hold the seal-blank temporarily after its formation, said meanshaving said stop as lanintegral part thereof; and means to move the seal blank from its 'temporarily held position.

` 18. In a box strapping machine the combination of means -to tension a strap about "a box; means to form a sealnhlank for sealing together theends of the tensioned strap; means actuated ananas by the tensioning means to y:nove a formed seal \blank into position for sealing the tensioned strap; and sealing means actuated by theseal blankforming means. 1

` 19. Inra box strapsealingmachine the. oombination of means to hold'the ends of a box-encircling strap in overlapped relation; means to form a seal blank forsealing together the overer'and means cooperating therewith to sever a predetermined lengthpof the fed strip of material and to form the severed portion into a seal blank;

means to move the formed seal blank into crimping position withA respect to overlapped portions of thetensioned strap; and meansr actuated by said plunger-for operatlngthe material feeding means, for crimping the .positioned seal blank about overlapped portions of the tensioned strap to form a seal, and for cutting on the surplus of the strap ladjacent the seal.'

2l. Ina box strapping machinethe combination of means to hold a strap around a vbox in sealing position; seal blankfeedlng and forming means; means tosecure overlapped ,portions of the held strapy with a formed seal; a strap cutter; and a reciprocablemember including means carrying and. directly actuating the seal blank lfeeding and forming means, the fseal securing means, and said cutter. Y

22. In a box strapping machine the combination ofmeans to hold a: strap around a box in sealing position; seal blank feeding and forming y P'ARVIN WRIGHT. 

